A. Very little. Colonel French asked me to go to Mrs. Clarke, who was, as we supposed, the lady, or the person, or the agent, for we did not know at that time whether it was male or female, at least I did not know: when I went to Gloucester-place, I found it to be a female. Q. Do you know whether Colonel French had, previously to that, seen Mrs. Clarke? A. Most assuredly he had. Q. Do you know when Colonel French saw Mrs. Clarke? A. No, I cannot pretend to say when. Q. Do you know whether Colonel French saw Mrs. Clarke before he received his letter of service? A. I rather think not; the letter of service was granted before he saw Mrs. Clarke. Q. Then you do know when Colonel French saw Mrs. Clarke? A. No, I do not, for Colonel French was going to Ireland, he was taking that part of the letter of service; the letter of service was so extensive, it was for England, Ireland, and Scotland; he took for Ireland and Scotland, and left me to take that for England. Q. At this interview between yourself and Mrs. Clarke, what passed? A. I really cannot recollect. Q. Do you recollect the substance of it? A. No, he came to introduce me, merely to say, that was Captain Sandon, and this was Mrs. Clarke. Q. Do you recollect that the levy was spoken of that day? A. No, I cannot take upon me to say that it was mentioned. Q. Can you take upon you to say that it was not mentioned? A. No, nor can I take upon me to say it was mentioned. Q. Do you recollect when you or Colonel French mentioned the levy to Mrs. Clarke? A. Colonel French had seen her previous to my having ever seen her. Q. Had Colonel French mentioned the levy to her, previous to your seeing her? A. I really cannot say that. Q. Of your own knowledge, do you know that the levy had been mentioned to her? A. I really cannot say, Colonel French had seen the person who was to get that; he never mentioned to me whether it was male or female. Q. Who was that person? A. I really cannot say; I never knew her till I had the pleasure of being introduced to her, and then I found it was Mrs. Clarke. Q. When was the first time that you recollect having spoken yourself to Mrs. Clarke upon the subject of the levy? A. I really do not recollect any thing about it, for this reason, the business was entirely settled between Mrs. Clarke and Colonel French, and I thought I had nothing at all to do to interfere in it. Q. State the way and the terms on which the business was settled between Colonel French and Mrs. Clarke and yourself? A. Colonel French and Mrs. Clarke made it their agreement, which I did not understand; I was not present when they spoke about it. Q. What passed between Colonel French and yourself upon the subject? A. Of course we wished to get the levy; the letter of service. Q. What means did you take to get the letter of service? A. I understand from Colonel French, that he was to give a certain sum of money for it. Q. What passed between you and Colonel French upon that subject? [This question was objected to, and the witness ordered to withdraw.] SIR ARTHUR PIGGOTT wished to know from Mr. Wardle how this could be accusatory of the Duke of York? But at any rate the evidence was not admissible. The The ATTORNEY GENERAL also thought that such evidence was not admissible. LORD FOLKSTONE thought it might be evidence proper to be received, as these two officers had joined in this levy; and it was very probable they did converse together upon that service, and the terms upon which they were to raise the men. It might turn out to be evidence too that might affect the Duke of York. MR. YORKE, "I am perfectly persuaded, that the result of all these examinations will be, that there had been somewhere or another very foul transactions and proceedings, which it is necessary for this House to get to the bottom of. It will not appear that the Duke of York has been guilty of it, but there will appear to have been bribes given, and that it may be proper for this House to consider what steps they shall take upon this business. If it may be found that there are persons acting for the purpose of deceiving officers, it may be necessary to take the proper measures for punishing those engaged in such corrupt transactions." Upon these grounds he should wish the hon. gentleman not to be interrupted in the course of his proceedings, but that he should go on in a manner that would disclose as much as possible. [The witness was again called in, A: When I saw him, he told me, as he had before, that he had settled every thing with Mrs. Clarke. Q. Do you know what were the terms concluded by that settlement ? A. Yes, he informed me he was to give her five hundred guineas. Q. What further? A. I understood that he gave her the five hundred guineas afterwards. Q. Do you mean, that that was the only agreement with Mrs. Clarke, upon the subject? A. I cannot take upon me to say what he made with her, that was the only agreement that I know of. Q. Did you yourself make any agree ment with Mrs. Clarke? A. None. Q. You have stated, that of your own knowledge, you were not aware of any other bargain than the five hundred guineas? A. Not till he went to Ireland? bu previous to his taking leave of me, he told me that if she wanted more money I was to give it to her. Q. To what amount did he authorize you to go? A. As far as five, or six, or seven hundred pounds more. Q. Do you recollect any applicaion being made to Mrs. Clarke, for and the question was proposed.] any alteration in the original letter of service? A. There were a variety of alterations in the letter of service, because the bounty of different recruits were raised; in the first instance, we had it at thirteen guineas; the bounty was raised to nineteen; we thought of course we were entitled to that nineteen guineas; we applied to Mrs. Clarke to get that enlargement, without any occasion for doing it, for of course we could not get men at thirteen guineas when the line allowed nineteen guineas. Q. You mean, that the other res cruiting parties were allowed 19, and that you were allowed 13? A. It was the order from Government, that every recruiting party should receive 19 guineas, it was found that the 13 guineas was not sufficient, the bounty was raised; and though we had engaged to do it for 13 we could not do it for that; and on the general bounty being raised, we applied, and bad ours raised too. Q. To whom did you apply? A. To the Commander in Chief, of course. Q. Do you know Mr. Dowler? A. I once had the pleasure of seeing him at Mrs. Clarke's. Q. Do you recollect any thing par ticular that passed? A. Not a syllable passed between Mr. Dowler and myself upon the subject, Q. Do you recollect Mr. Dowler calling upon you at Lyon's Inn? A. Mr. Dowler was never at my chambers; at least I never saw him Q. Then you did not apply upon there. that occasion to Mrs. Clarke ? A. There was no occasion for it. A. I do not recollect that we did. A. That brings something to my recolicction about boys; that in every hundred men, we were to have ten bogs, which were to be allowed the toenty of the men'; but the letter of service will state it better than I can, for it is in the letter of service. Q. Do you mean to state, that there was no alteration made or applied for with regard to boys, after the original letter of service? A. Not after the letter of service. Q. What alterations were made in that letter of service? A. The ten boys to the hundred men. Q. Was that done through the influence of Mrs. Clarke? A. I cannot take upon myself to say, for Colonel French was the person who entirely finished the business with Mrs. Clarke. Q. Do you recollect that you ever went to the Commander in Chief, in consequence of any communication or message sent to you by Mrs. Clarke, at Lyon's Inn? Q. Do you recollect that, in conse quence of any communication with any person at any time from Mrs. Clarke, you attended on the Duke of York? A. I once, in company with Colonel French, waited upon the Com. mander in Chief, to return him thanks for having given us the levy. I never saw the Commander in Chief afterwards upon that subject. Q. State what sum or sums of mo ney were paid to Mrs Clarke by yourself, or with your knowledge, upon this levy business. A. At various times, I conceive that I paid her 8004.; it might be 8501. but no more. Q. Do you recollect giving a check upon Mr. Grant for 2001. in favour of Mr. Corri, on account of the levy? A. Perfectly well; but it was not a check, it was a draft of two months; but it was not for Mrs. Clarke, it was entirely for Mr. Corri, who had acted as the agent from her to Mr. Cockayne, the attorney. Q. Do you recollect any thing of a loan of 5000l. to the Commander in Chief, that it was in agitation should be advanced him by Colonel French? A. I never understood Colonel French to have 500l. in the world: therefore how he could advance 5,000l. A. I do not recollect it in the small- I cannot tell; for our account with est degree. Q. Do you recollect any gentleman bringing you a note or message to such effect? A. I cannot take upon myself to say any thing about it; I do not remember. our Agent will shew we were very minus indeed, for we owe him 3,8001. upon the levy. Q. You do not recollect any mention of such an advance upon the part of Colonel French? A. Most assuredly not. L 2 Q. You |